Sir John Seton (letter writer) facts for kids

Sir John Seton was a Scottish nobleman and soldier. He is known for writing many letters to his cousin, Alexander Montgomerie, who was the 6th Earl of Eglinton. These letters give us a peek into his life and the important events happening around him.

Who Was Sir John Seton?

It can be a bit tricky to figure out exactly which Sir John Seton wrote the letters. This is because there were a few different Scottish noblemen named John Seton around at the same time! The Earl of Eglinton had a brother named Sir John Seton, but it seems he was not the letter writer. The letters were from one of the Earl's cousins, also named Sir John Seton.

Sir John Seton in France

One of the possible letter writers was a John Seton who served in the French Royal Guard. This special group of soldiers was called the Gardes Écossaises, which means "Scottish Guards." They protected the French King.

This John Seton was a younger son of William Seton of Kylesmure. He might have served in France with another famous soldier, Colonel Hepburn.

Another cousin named John Seton was also a soldier. He was the younger son of John Seton and Isabel Balfour of Carriston. This family lived in a place called Star in Fife, Scotland. This John Seton married a French noblewoman, a daughter of the Comte de Bourbon. They had one daughter.

Sir John Seton of Gargunnock

Another Sir John Seton was a Colonel in the Swedish army. In 1638, he was asked to fight for King Charles I in Scotland. However, he said he would fight for the King anywhere else, but not in his home country. He said he would not fight "where his life was."

This Sir John Seton was from a place called Gargunnock in Stirlingshire. He was a more distant cousin to the Earl of Eglinton. He had brought 1,200 Scottish soldiers from the Netherlands to Bohemia in 1619. He was also a military governor in Bohemia in 1620.

Letters to the Earl of Eglinton

The letters from John Seton are signed "Johan Seton." These letters were saved and later published by a historian named William Fraser. Today, you can find them at the National Records of Scotland.

In a letter from 1634, John Seton mentioned his niece, Elizabeth Forrester. He also said he would be happy to have the Earl of Eglinton's children stay with him in London. He wrote that his own son, whose mother was German, was going to school in Prestonpans, Scotland. John Seton hoped to buy some land in Scotland. He also shared news about the Thirty Years' War, a big conflict happening in Europe.

Another Sir John Seton wrote from France in November 1634. He had hosted the Earl of Eglinton's sons in Paris. One of the Earl's children, Henry, was left in London with a courtier and architect named David Cunningham.

In January 1642, John Seton sent some clothes and other items to the Earl's wife, Margaret Scott. He said the clothes were "very curious" and had the newest types of lace. He also promised to send the Earl a diamond he had asked for. For the Earl's daughters, he promised hoods, masks, silk stockings, garters, roses, gloves, and fans.

In April 1645, John Seton sent more items from London to the Earl of Eglinton. These included white gloves, sweet-smelling perfumed gloves, a silk waistcoat, and lute strings. He also shared news about important military leaders like Thomas Fairfax and Captain Cromwell. He hoped that a town called Tauntondean would be saved from a siege.

On March 30, 1646, John Seton signed a receipt for some gold coins. These coins were left to him by his aunt, Mary Sutton, Countess of Home, who had passed away. The money was given to him by the Earl of Lauderdale and the Earl of Moray, who were in charge of his aunt's will.